Steam-tricycle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1. H. B. SMITH.

STEAM TRIOYGLE.

No. 398,548, Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. B. SMITH.

STEAM TRIGYGLE.

No. 398,548. Patented Feb. 26, 1889..

' IlEZEIUAl'I B. SMITH, OF SMITHVILLE, NE\V JERSEY.

STEAM-TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,548, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed May 16, 1887. Serial No. 238,340. (No model.)

To a]! whom it may concern; Around the axle I'place clips or collars 9, Be it known that I, HEZEKIAH B. SMITH, of in which I secure by set-screws \"ertically-admake the three wheels of equal size and of a reach. The shaft 1: carries loosely two spur- Smithville, in the county of Burlington and i justalole rods 72, the upper ends of which are State of New J erscy, have invented certain t bent forward horizontally and passed through 5 Improvements in Steam-Tlricycles, of which clips provided with set-screws on the under the following is a specification. side of a seat, 1', the scatbeingthus supported The aim of my invention is to provide a j upon and directly over the axle and adapted light, simple, and easily-managed vehicle, 1 for both horizontal and vertical adjustment, which maybe safely placed under the con l as required. To the collars {/,I also secure to trol of unskilled persons, and which shall be i downwardlyextending arms j, which pass adapted to travel at high speeds over ordi' i through sockets or clips on the under side of nary roads, carrying a supply of fuel and waa foot-rest, 7r, the sockets being provided with ter sufficient for journeys of considerable t set-screws in ordcrthat the rest; maybe raised length. i or lowered, as required.

15 In the accompanying drawings, liigure 1 In order that the operator occupying the represents a perspective view of my improved 1 seat may readily steer the machine, I pivot to vehicle. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. a collar around the forward end of the reach Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 1 l a lever, m,connecting one end of the same by of Fig. 2, showing the yielding connection bea link, it, to the arm which carries the steer- 2o tween the driving-wheel and its operatinging-wheel and connecting its opposite end to gear. Fig. 4: is a vertical section on the line 5 a rod, 0, which is extended rearward and pro- 28 of Fig. 2, showing the tubular reservoirvided at its rear end with a rack engaging a frame, the filter, and the connections for the pinion, p, on a vertical shaft, (7, which is burner. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the armounted in a bracket fixed to the axle and 2 5 rangement of the feed-pump. Fig. (i is av'crprovided on the upper end with a llfllltlrYllGOl tical cross-section on the line i I of Fig. 2, or other operating device, r, by which the atshowing the manner of supporting thebrakc. tendant is (llfllllCtl to change the position of Referring to the drawings, A represents the V the steering-wheel at. will. These devices may, main frame of a substantially L form, and ll, l however, be replaced by any suitable connec- 30 C, and D its supporting-wheels. The frame tions which will enable the operator to conis composed of iron pipe or other tubular ma- 3 trol the front wheel, various contrivances terial, and consists in the present instance of 1 adapted for this purpose being known in the the axle a, joined near one end by the T- art in connection with tricyeles. shaped coupling Z) to the reach 0. At its two i For the purpose of propelling the machine,

35 ends the axle is closed and provided with j I clasp around the reach near its rear end one solid journals to receive the wheels B and C. t or more collars, I, which give support; to an At its forward end the reach is closed and j engine, E, of the ordinary reciprocating type, provided with a forked arm, d, supporting which is connected through intermediate the ends of a vertical pivot or journal, 6, I, gearing with the drivingwvheel B in the man- 40 which in turn supports the outwardly-extenth ner which will now be explained.

ing arm f, having its extremity fashioned The engine-cylindera" lies horizontallyand into a journal or axle for the steering-wheel its piston is connected by the usual pitman,

D, this wheel being arranged in line with the j Z), to a crank, c, 011 a cross-shaft, (1, this rear driving-wheel, B, the machine being of shaft-bearing being preferably formed, as

45 the ordinary two-track type. usual, in an arm forming a continuation of The wheels may be of any suitable conthe cylinder-head and supported at its rear struction, but are preferably of the ordinary end by a collar encircling the reach. The suspension type, with rubber tires now emshaftd carries a pinion, f, engaginga spur- 10o ployed in bicycles and tricycles. They may gear, h, on a second cross-shaft, i, which re- 50 be of any appropriate size; but I prefer to ceives its support from a collar clusping the diameter of from forty to fifty inches.

gears, 7s and Z, of different; diameters, and an intern'lediate clutch, m, splined thereto, so that it may be thrown into engagement with one or the other of the gears at will by means of a handlever, 11, provided for the purpose.

To the side of the driving-wheel I permanently eonnechby devices to be presently explained, two spur-gears, and p, which 011- i gage constantly with and Z respectively. By throwing the clutch into engagement with one or the other of the gears Z and k motion will be transmitted from the engine to the driving-wheel, which will receive a high or a low speed, according as the larger or the smaller of the driving-pinions is called into action. This duplex system of gearing admits of the machine being adjusted to travel at high speeds on level ground, or of its being adjusted for hill-climbing and other work requiring a greater expenditure of power. If desired, the additional gears may be omitted and a single train of gear employed between the engine and the driving-wheel.

The engine proper is of the ordinary type, with a reciprocating piston and a slide-valve, which latteris actuated by an eccentric, 2", on the shaft (1', as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to relieve the gearing from violent shocks and strains in traveling over rough ground when the driving parts are thrown suddenly in and out of gear, I interpose between the wheels 0 and p and the main Wheel yielding connections. I prefer the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the two wheels 0 and p are mounted on a sleeve revolving loosely around the main axle, the

sleeve having at one end a series of fingers which enter between corresponding fingers on the hub of the wheel, with rubber or other elastic material, it, inserted between them, as shown. This allows the wheel a slight rotation-independently of the sleeve and driving.-gear. V p g 7 For. the purpose of supplying steam to actuate the engine, I provide a steam-boiler, F, preferably of the upright tubular type, and support the same from the reach 0. I recommend, as the most simple means of sustaining the boiler, an encircling ring, 10, the inner end of which clipped to or around the reach, as shown.

Iprovide the boiler near its base with an oil-burner, :11, preferably of the familiar atomizing typcsuch as are commonly used inthe well-known Shipman engines of the present day-in which a steam-jet is directed across the mouth of an oil-delivery tube, the jet acting to induce the flow of the oil through the tube and to shatter and atomize the oil and deliver it in a line mist or spray into the firebox, where it is burned. self is not claimed of my invention.

The tubular frame of the machine already described serves as a reservoir for the oil used as fuel. The frame is provided with a top opening, 11 closed by a cock or'otherwise, to permit the introduction of the oil, and is provided at any convenient point, as shown in This burner in it i which the pipes lead to the two burners.

Fig. 4, with an outletopening, a through which the oil is delivered into an underlying chamber, b filled with sponge or other fibrous or granular material to serve as a filter and to prevent the impurities which may be contained in the oil from passing to the burner. From the bottom of this filter a pipe, c-,leads, as shown in Fig. 4, to a small chamber, (1 i1;

,. pipe, 6 conducts steam from the boiler, and at its lower end is forked or branched, and its two ends lead to the respective burners, as shown.

For the purpose of carrying the proper supply of water, I suspend from the axle a tank or reservoir, 3r, which may be of any appropriate form, and from this reservoir apipe,f?, is led, as shown in Fig. 5, to a feedpump, g and thence to the boiler. The feed-pu mp, which may be of ordinary piston-type, may be supported by the plate which sustains the engine, and its piston is connected with and actuated by an eccentric, 71- on the gear-shaft i. The feed-pipe will be providedwith the usual check-valves and a stop-valve, if de sired.

In order that the operator may control the advance of the machineindependently of the engine, I provide a brake consisting of a rockshaft, 6 provided at one end with a brakeshoe, j and at the opposite end with a crankarm, Z in position to be readily operated by the foot of the rider. This brakeshaft is sustained, as shown in Fig. 6, by plate or arm, m clipped at one end to the reach. V

\Vhile I prefer to employ the frame as an oil-reservoir and the tank as a water-reservoir, it manifest that the water may be carried in the frame and the oil carried in the tank, the arrangement of pipes being changed tocorrespond. V w v w 7 It will be observed that under my organi zation or arrangement of theparts the weight of the engine-boiler and gearing and the principal part of the riders weight are carried at the driving side of the machine, whereby the driving and steering wheels are caused to take the required hold upon the ground, that the tubular frame is utilized as a reservoir for the fuel, that the brake is in position to be conveniently operated by the foot of the rider, and that the steering and engine-controlling devices are brought in such relation to the riders seat that they may be quickly and conveniently operated.

The location of the boiler and of the gearing on the outer side of the reach, which is in. turn located near the driving-wheel, admits of the rider being seated close to the inner side of the reach and protects his person from contact with the operative parts of the mechanism, the reach being in effect employed as a guard or fender between the rider and the mechanism. The location of the boiler on the opposite side of the reach is also advantageous, not only in that the weight is brought more directly in line with the driv- .mounted on and sustained wholly by the reach,

ing and steering wheels, but also in that the rider being carried out of line with the boiler is free from the annoyance which would otherwise 'be experienced from the heat andproducts of combustion. The feed-water and steam pipes may also be carried through the boiler-frame. l

Having thus described my invent ion, what I claim is 1. In a pmvcr-driven lriii'yele, the axle and its two ground-wheels, the reach extending forward rigidly from the axle, the arm F, pi"- oted to and extending laterally from. the forward end of the reach, the connections extending rearward from said arm to control the position of the wheel, an engine or motor and intermediate gearing connecting said motor with one of the rear wheels.

In a two-tracl tricycle provided with a steam-motor,therear axle and its two groundwheels, one of which is a driver, the reach exi tending forward rigidly from said axle at a point near the driving-wheel, the steeringwheel pivotally connected with the forward end of said reach in line with the rear driving-wheel, the engine and boiler located outside of the outer side of the reach between the driving and steering wheels and connected to and sustained wholly by said reach, and the gearing connecting said engine with the drivil'ig-whcel.

2' In a steam-actuated vehicle, the axle, its two wheels, and a [erwardly-extending reach, in combination with the boiler, engine, and driving-gear located on the outer side of the reach, and a drivers seat located inside of the reach, substantially as described.

l. I11 a steam-actuated riding-vehicle having the rear axle, its two wheels, the reach near one end of the axle and the front steering-wheel in line or substantiallyin line with the rear driving-wheel, the boiler and engine both carried by the reach, and ix'ltermediate gear eon neeting the engine with the rearwheel, as shown, whereby the motion is communicated directly to the driving-wheel and the 1 weight of theboiler and engine applied mainly Z to the driving and steering wheels. i

In a steam-tricycle, a frame provided with two independent rear wheels, one of which is the driver, and a front steeringwheel tracking with said driver, in combinanation with an engine or motor mounted on the reach and geared directly to the drivingwheel.

(l. In combination with the non-rotating axle a, the driving-wheel revolving loosely there n,a driving-gear also mounted directly on said axle and revolnble independently thereon, an elastic or yielding connection, substantially as described, betweel'i the gear and the driving wheel, and an engine or motor connected with and driving said gear on the axle, as described, whereby the wheel and its immediate driving-gear are independently supported and allowed to independently turn upon the axle.

7. The axle, its two grouml-wheels, the reach extending rigidly forward from the axle, the front steringavheel located at one side of the reach and connected to the latter by the pivoted arm or axlef, in combination with the lever m, pivoted to the reach, link 71, rod 0, and the rack-aml-pinion mechanism for eontrollin said rod.

8. In combination with the tubular reservoir-frame, the boiler, its burner, the pipe connecting the frame and linirner, and the filter, applied as described.

I). In combination with the driving-wheel B, the two gears o and p, of dil't'erel'lt diameters, coupled thereto, the gears 7b" and Z the shaft 1?, and its clutch in, and the engine geared to shaft '1, substantiallyas shown.

10. In a steam-tricycle or road-wagon, a tubular main frame, a boiler sustained therefrom, an oil-burner for the boiler, an oilconductor communicating with the interior of the frame and with the burner, and a steamconductor leading from the boiler to the burner, said elements combined for joint op eration, as described.

llltZElilA 11 J3. SMITH.

\Vit masses:

E. l lii'nxs, WM. s. KELLEY. 

